SHE SAYS SHE WANTS A ‘PEACEFUL LIFE’..! – An alleged ISIS bride facing charges has told a Melbourne court she plans to divorce her husband, who is accused of a:b-u:sing the family’s alleged s-l:a:ve, and start over.
An alleged Islamic State bride facing serious slavery charges in Australia has told a Melbourne court she wants to divorce her husband, renounce ISIS, and live a “small-scale and peaceful existence” if granted bail.
Kawsar Abbas, 53, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday as she continues her bid for freedom while awaiting trial on charges including enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave, and engaging in slave trading.
Her barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, revealed Abbas had recently instructed lawyers to begin divorce proceedings against her husband, Muhammad Ahmad, who is currently imprisoned in Syria.
“My instructor has written instructions now to commence divorce proceedings against Muhammad,” Mr Morrissey told the court, adding that the paperwork had already been prepared under Australian family law.
The move comes after previous court hearings heard disturbing allegations about Ahmad’s treatment of a teenage Yazidi girl who was allegedly purchased by the family in Syria in 2017 for US$10,000. Police allege the girl, who had already endured years of abuse after ISIS fighters allegedly murdered members of her family, was subjected to violence, forced labour and repeated sexual assaults.
Investigators claim Ahmad frequently beat the girl and once dragged her down two flights of stairs by her hair. He allegedly told her: “I bought you for sex and housework.”
Australian Federal Police Detective Senior Constable Marc Clendenning previously told the court that Abbas was also accused of enforcing strict ISIS ideology within the household. According to the alleged victim, Abbas ordered slaves to read the Quran, prohibited them from practising their own religion, and encouraged them to behave like Islamic State fighters.
The alleged victim also claimed Abbas owned and maintained firearms, including a Kalashnikov rifle and a Glock pistol.
However, Mr Morrissey argued his client has completely rejected ISIS and no longer poses a risk to the community. He said Abbas had publicly condemned the terrorist organisation and intended to avoid mosques if released on strict bail conditions.
“She wants nothing more to do with ISIS. They’re terrible,” he told the court.
The court heard Abbas suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Proceedings were briefly interrupted Monday after she experienced an anxiety attack.
A forensic psychiatrist testified that Abbas struggles to find joy but believes returning to family support in Australia could improve her mental health.
Her daughter, Zeinab Ahmad, was recently denied bail after a magistrate expressed concerns that she had only renounced ISIS after being jailed.
Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan has reserved her decision on whether Abbas will be granted bail. The hearing continues.
